The laying of hands upon him took place on the night of his last agony in Gethsemane, a place he had often visited for meditation and prayer but which he now approached in strange silence with a heart full of sorrow. As he approached and entered the garden, the disciples saw a change come over him, for they had never seen him so utterly sad and silent, and a strange sadness deepened as he proceeded so that they dared not question him as to the cause. His form swayed as if about to fall, every step was taken with labored effort, he groaned aloud as under the pressure of a terrible burden, and twice his companions supported him or he would have fallen to the earth, while upon reaching the garden the disciples looked anxiously for his usual place of retirement that he might rest. He had foreseen this betrayal and arrest and had prepared his faithful disciples for his betrayal, humiliation, condemnation, and death, so that the fickleness of other followers would not take them by surprise or shake their faith.
The seizure followed Judas, one of his professed disciples, identifying him with a kiss and boldly touching his person. Those coming to take him had first been surprised and awed by what they saw and felt when he was glorified before them, but they regained courage, assurance, and hardihood when they saw the boldness of Judas in touching him. The mob, a murderous throng and crowd, then laid violent hands on him and seized him, binding the hands that had always been used to do good.
He was taken after his long agony in the garden by a band of men and soldiers with staves and spears, to be condemned. The Sanhedrin condemned him to death but brought him before Pilate because he could not be executed without Pilate's confirmation so that he might be legally condemned. His response to the betrayal showed forbearance, love, and pity. The taking shows him numbered with the transgressors and seemingly shut out from the light of God's sustaining presence that had been with him through life. Upon him who knew no sin was laid the iniquity of all and the guilt of fallen humanity, and so dreadful did sin appear and so great was the weight of guilt that he was tempted to fear being shut out forever from his Father's love, feeling the terrible wrath of God against transgression and exclaiming that his soul was exceeding sorrowful even unto death.
The laying of hands upon him took place on the night of his last agony in Gethsemane, a place he had often visited for meditation and prayer but which he now approached in strange silence with a heart full of sorrow. As he approached and entered the garden, the disciples saw a change come over him, for they had never seen him so utterly sad and silent, and a strange sadness deepened as he proceeded so that they dared not question him as to the cause. His form swayed as if about to fall, every step was taken with labored effort, he groaned aloud as under the pressure of a terrible burden, and twice his companions supported him or he would have fallen to the earth, while upon reaching the garden the disciples looked anxiously for his usual place of retirement that he might rest. He had foreseen this betrayal and arrest and had prepared his faithful disciples for his betrayal, humiliation, condemnation, and death, so that the fickleness of other followers would not take them by surprise or shake their faith.
The seizure followed Judas, one of his professed disciples, identifying him with a kiss and boldly touching his person. Those coming to take him had first been surprised and awed by what they saw and felt when he was glorified before them, but they regained courage, assurance, and hardihood when they saw the boldness of Judas in touching him. The mob, a murderous throng and crowd, then laid violent hands on him and seized him, binding the hands that had always been used to do good.
He was taken after his long agony in the garden by a band of men and soldiers with staves and spears, to be condemned. The Sanhedrin condemned him to death but brought him before Pilate because he could not be executed without Pilate's confirmation so that he might be legally condemned. His response to the betrayal showed forbearance, love, and pity. The taking shows him numbered with the transgressors and seemingly shut out from the light of God's sustaining presence that had been with him through life. Upon him who knew no sin was laid the iniquity of all and the guilt of fallen humanity, and so dreadful did sin appear and so great was the weight of guilt that he was tempted to fear being shut out forever from his Father's love, feeling the terrible wrath of God against transgression and exclaiming that his soul was exceeding sorrowful even unto death.